HULL WANTS STRIKERS

Hull City recently completed the signings of Nikica Jelavic and Shane Long from Everton and West Brom respectively. Manager Steve Bruce is hoping that they prove to be the difference in the second half of the season. He says that both strikers can score the goals required to make them look like bargains. Scoring goals has been a major problem for Hull in after their return to the Premier league. Even though the club have been able to stay well clear of the relegation zone, they would have been closer to the European qualifying places if not for a bad scoring record.

Bruce has been able to organise his team extremely well so that they are tough to beat and also score goals against. This has helped them get one of the best defensive records in the division amongst all teams put together. They have allowed just 27 goals in the 21 matches. The problem with scoring becomes apparent when looked at the record of goals scored in the 21 matches, as it stands at just 22. Even though they are in the 10th position right now, they are just five points above the relegation zone. Bruce is not taking chances this time around and he hopes that the addition of Jelavic and Long become the difference.

“I have, in 15 years as a manager, always treated any club I work for as if it was my money. I think of the actual prices we have paid, both are real value for money, I really do think that. Of course the numbers have add-ons but the actual fees paid are the same or they are a margin apart. I believe at this particular moment for a 26-year-old (Long) and a 28-year-old (Jelavic) to do the business we have is fantastic piece of business otherwise I would not have done it,” said Bruce.